Flu season hit a critical upswing in the last week, according to state officials on Friday.

Dr. Ron Chapman, California’s top health officer and director of Public Health, said influenza cases were spiking in a news release on Friday.

“Flu activity continues to increase statewide, including reports of hospitalizations, severe disease and the number of deaths,” said Dr. Chapman. “We are clearly in the midst of what appears to be an earlier peaking, severe flu season, and I encourage everyone who has not yet gotten a flu vaccination to do so. The influenza vaccine remains the most effective way to protect yourself from the flu.”

State numbers as of the end of Jan. 11 place 45 dead from confirmed influenza-related deaths in 20 counties. CDPH is investigating an additional 50 deaths to confirm whether they are flu-related or not.

Kern County itself has reported 11 deaths from flu-like deaths. Not all deaths may be from the flu itself.

Since Dec. 27, 74 people have been hospitalized for flu-related deaths county-wide. Of those 74 cases, 42 have tested positive for Influenza Type A. Seventeen of those cases are H1N1.

During a teleconference on Friday, state epidemiologist Gil Chavez warned that this was a startling number.

“By this time last year we had received only 105 total influenza fatalities,” Chavez said. “Please note that an additional 50 deaths are under investigation by the California Department of Public Health and likely to be confirmed by next week.

Chavez said that the H1N1 virus continues to be the dominant strain this flu season.

“I would like to continue to stress the need for everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccination once a flu season,” Chavez said.

Chavez, the state epidemiologist, noted in Friday’s teleconference that there is a difference in the numbers reported at the state level and within the counties.

“County health departments are on the front lines and hear cases first, and report them sooner to the communities for awareness,” Chavez said. “We also have to close our reports at some time so the reports given are through Jan. 11.”

Chavez said that the season has hit and peaked earlier than past ones in California, and so more deaths are to be expected.

“This appears to be a season where more deaths are being reported,” Chavez said.

Flu season has hit hard across the nation as a whole, according to a CDC report released Friday. Since Oct. 1, 2013, 3,745 laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations have been reported, 61 percent of which were adults between 18 and 64.

“More commonly, most flu hospitalizations occur in people 65 and older,” the CDC report states. “This pattern of more hospitalizations among younger people was also seen during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.”

Page 2 of 2 - H1N1 is a strain to take especially seriously, Chavez warned.

“We are seeing a predominance in cases of H1N1 and that always causes more fatalities,” Chavez said.

Health officials continue to advocate for vaccinations, while also warning to take additional precautions. Those include:

While sick, limit contact with others

Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based rub

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

Those at highest risk — the elderly, pregnant women, infants, or those with other health conditions — who show flu symptoms should contact their physician immediately in order to get the most effective treatment. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.